Scotland Office

Government response to the independent review of the role and contribution of women in the Scottish economy

David Mundell: The Government will be responding to the recommendations in due course [and discussions between Professor Sawers and the UK Government are continuing on this matter.]


This statement has also been made in the House of Lords: 
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Home Office

Justice & Home Affairs pre-Council Statement

Mrs Theresa May: An extraordinary meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council will be held on 9 November in Brussels. The meeting has been convened by the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in response to the ongoing migration crisis currently faced by Europe. I will attend on behalf of the UK.  We expect the discussion to focus on continuing efforts to manage ongoing migration pressures, including those at the external EU border and efforts to improve the effectiveness of the migration ‘hotspots’ in Italy and Greece, as well as the implementation of relocation measures in which the UK is not taking part. The discussion will also cover Member States' offers of practical assistance to those countries experiencing particular pressure. The UK is offering substantial assistance in that regard.


This statement has also been made in the House of Lords: 
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Ministry of Defence

Call-Out of Reserve Forces in Support of Operations in Afghanistan

Penny Mordaunt: With the expiry of the call-out order made on 10 November 2014[1], a new order has been made under section 56(1B) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to enable Reservists to be called into permanent service in support of United Kingdom operations in Afghanistan. Under the call-out order made on 10 November 2014, 64 Reservists have been called out for operations. We anticipate a continued requirement for Reservists, with the right skills and experience, over the period the new order will be in force. This is fully in line with our policy of having more capable, usable, integrated and relevant Reserve Forces. The order takes effect from 9 November 2015 and ceases to have effect on 8 November 2016.  [1] Call-out order authorising the call out of Reserve Forces for operations in Afghanistan, signed 10 November 2014.

HM Treasury

Operation of the UK’s Counter-Terrorist Asset Freezing Regime:

Harriett Baldwin: Under the Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 (TAFA 2010), the Treasury is required to report to Parliament, quarterly, on its operation of the UK’s asset freezing regime mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1373.This is the eighteenth report under the Act and it covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 September 2015. This report also covers the UK implementation of the UN Al-Qaida asset freezing regime and the operation of the EU asset freezing regime in the UK under EU Regulation (EC) 2580/2001 which implements UNSCR 1373 against external terrorist threats to the EU. Under the UN Al-Qaida asset freezing regime, the UN has responsibility for designations and the Treasury has responsibility for licensing and compliance with the regime in the UK under the Al-Qaida (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011. Under EU Regulation 2580/2001, the EU has responsibility for designations and the Treasury has responsibility for licensing and compliance with the regime in the UK under Part 1 of TAFA 2010.Annexes A and B to this statement provide a breakdown, by name, of all those designated by the UK and the EU in pursuance of UN Security Council Resolution 1373. The two individuals subject to designations, which have been notified on a restricted and confidential basis, under Sections 3 and 10 of TAFA 2010 are denoted by A and B.The following table sets out the key asset-freezing activity in the UK during the quarter ending 30 September 2015: TAFA 2010EU Reg(EC) 2580/2001Al-Qaida regimeUNSCR 1989Assets frozen (as at 30/09/2015)£39,000£11,000[1] £50,000[2]Number of accounts frozen in UK (at 30/09/2015)45 10 21New accounts frozen (during Q3 2015)1 00 Accounts unfrozen(during Q3 2015)004Total number of designations(at 30/09/2015)30 33304(i) New designations (during Q3 2015, including confidential designations)002(ii) Number of designations that were confidential (During Q3 2015)0N/A N/A (iii) Delistings (during Q3 2015)0 02(iv) Individuals in custody in UK (at 30/09/2015)300(v) Individuals in UK, not in custody (at 30/09/2015)102 (vi) Individuals overseas(at 30/09/2015)1910230(vii) Groups7 23 72 Individuals by Nationality(i) UK Nationals[3] (ii) Non UK Nationals  9 14   N/A  N/A Renewal of designation(during Q3 2015)9N/A N/A General Licences(i) Issued in Q3(ii) Amended(iii) Revoked (i) 0(ii) 0(iii) 0 Specific Licences:(i) Issued in Q3 (ii) Amended (iii) Expired (iv) Revoked/Redundant (v) Refused 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 [1] This does not duplicate funds frozen under TAFA.[2]This figure reflects the most up-to-date account balances available and includes approximately $64,000 of funds frozen in the UK. This has been converted using exchange rates as of 30/06/2015. Additionally the figures reflect an updating of balances of accounts for certain individuals during the quarter, depleted through licensed activity.[3] Based on information held by the Treasury, some of these individuals hold dual nationality. Legal Proceedings1.The appeal brought by Zana RAHIM has been settled.2.Moazzem BEGG, who was previously designated under TAFA 2010, lodged an appeal on 3rd November 2014, challenging the Treasury’s decision to revoke rather than quash his designation. These proceedings were on-going during the reporting period.3.One individual, C, designated under TAFA 2010 lodged an appeal against their designation on 27 May 2015. These proceedings were on-going during the reporting period. They lodged their witness statement on the 11 September 2015.4.There were no criminal proceedings in respect of breaches of asset freezes made under TAFA 2010, during the reporting period. Annex A: Designated persons under TAFA 2010 by name[1]INDIVIDUALS1.Hamed ABDOLLAHI2.Bilal Talal ABDULLAH3. Imad Khalil AL-ALAMI4. Abdelkarim Hussein AL-NASSER5. Ibrahim Salih AL-YACOUB6. Ruhul AMIN7. Manssor ARBABSIAR8. Usama HAMDAN9. Nur Idiris HASSAN NUR10. Nabeel HUSSAIN11. Hasan IZZ-AL-DIN12. Mohammed KHALED13. Parviz KHAN14. Reyaad KHAN15. Musa Abu MARZOUK16. Khalid MISHAAL17. Khalid Shaikh MOHAMMED18. Aseel MUTHANA19. Nasser MUTHANA20. Abdul Reza SHAHLAI21. Ali Gholam SHAKURI22. Qasem SOLEIMANI23. A (restricted designation) ENTITIES1. BASQUE FATHERLAND AND LIBERTY (ETA)2. EJERCITO DE LIBERACION NACIONAL (ELN)3. FUERZAS ARMADAS REVOLUCIONARIAS DE COLOMBIA (FARC)4. HIZBALLAH MILITARY WING, INCLUDING EXTERNAL SECURITY ORGANISATION5. POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE - GENERAL COMMAND (PFLP-GC)6. POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE (PFLP)7. SENDERO LUMINOSO (SL) Annex B: Persons designated by the EU under Council Regulation (EC)2580/2001[2] PERSONS1. Hamed ABDOLLAHI*2. Abdelkarim Hussein AL-NASSER*3. Ibrahim Salih AL YACOUB*4. Manssor ARBABSIAR*5. Mohammed BOUYERI6. Hasan IZZ-AL-DIN*7. Khalid Shaikh MOHAMMED*8. Abdul Reza SHAHLAI*9. Ali Gholam SHAKURI*10. Qasem SOLEIMANI* GROUPS AND ENTITIES 1. ABU NIDAL ORGANISATION (ANO)2.AL-AQSA E.V.3. AL-AQSA MARTYRS' BRIGADE4. BABBAR KHALSA5. COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES, INCLUDING NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY (NPA), PHILIPPINES6. DEVRIMCI HALK KURTULU PARTISI-CEPHESI — DHKP/C (REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY/FRONT/PARTY)7. EJÉRCITO DE LIBERACIÓN NACIONAL (NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY)*8. FUERZAS ARMADAS REVOLUCIONARIAS DE COLOMBIA (FARC)*9. GAMA'A AL-ISLAMIYYA (A.K.A. AL-GAMA'A AL-ISLAMIYYA) (ISLAMIC GROUP — IG)10. HAMAS, INCLUDING HAMAS-IZZ AL-DIN AL-QASSEM11. HIZBALLAH MILITARY WING, INCLUDING EXTERNAL SECURITY ORGANISATION12. HIZBUL MUJAHIDEEN (HM)13. HOFSTADGROEP14. INTERNATIONAL SIKH YOUTH FEDERATION (ISYF)15. İSLAMI BÜYÜK DOĞU AKINCILAR CEPHESI (IBDA-C) (GREAT ISLAMIC EASTERN WARRIORS FRONT)16. KHALISTAN ZINDABAD FORCE (KZF)17. KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY (PKK) (A.K.A. KONGRA-GEL)18. LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM (LTTE)19. PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD (PIJ)20. POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE — GENERAL COMMAND (PFLP-GC)*21. POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE (PFLP)*22. SENDERO LUMINOSO (SL) (SHINING PATH)*23. TEYRBAZEN AZADIYA KURDISTAN (TAK) [1] For full listing details please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/current-list-of-designated-persons-terrorism-and-terrorist-financing[2] For full listing details please refer to www.gov.uk* EU listing rests on UK designation under TAFA 2010